194 
the lowest axiis, tapering. Leaves 5-7 cm. long, about twice as long 
as the internodes, nearly sessile. Leaflets rather truncate to notched, 
inostly linear-cuneate, sometimes cuneate-oblong, the upper pairs on 
the rachis a little shorter, 8-10 pairs, about 1 cm. long, rarely 2 cm. 
iong, long-petiolulate, subalternate, thickish, the upper sides less jpu- 
Lerulent. Stems 1-2 ft. high, flexuous, bushy-branched, inclined to be 
decumbent, very open, froin slender and often underground root bran- 
ches. Stipules rigid, triangular, reflexed, the upper about 5 mm. long. 
The type is the common form from Colorado and central:New Mexico 
in the Sierra Blanca and northward to the Saskatchewan and Nebras- 
ka on dry foothills and prairies. It also occurs or the Pacific slope at 
Durango Colorado (Diehl). Middle Temperate life zone. This varies 
toward A. gracilentus at the south but flowers smaller and pods rarely 
inflated, $e ; i 
--Astragalus flexuosus var. elongatus (Hook. Fl. Bor Am. 1140 
1830 as Phaca). Pods sulcate at both sutures, conspicuously tapering 
and much obcompressed at base, arcuate, barely 3 mm. wide. Flowers 
smaller and white. Leaflets cuneate-oblong. This is the common 
form from Montana northward, though sporadic plants.occur through 
the entire region... ss | ie e788 f 
Astragalus flexuosus var. Fendleri (Gray): Jones Cont. 10 62 (1902). 
Phaca Fendleri Gray Pl. Fend. 36 (1849), Pods straight, rather larger 
above, with both sutures convex and about equally so, tapering.at base, 
smooth, on a stipe half as long as the calyx, rather rounded.at tip and 
apiculate, with chartaceous.walls, few, mostly in short racemes, about 
round in cross-section, alittle suleatey pendent.’ Flowers purple. Ca- 
lyx lobes minute. Leaflets elliptical to narrowly oblong.” Glenwood 
Springs-to Salida and southward to Durango ¡Colorada among juni- 
pers. Upper edge of the Middle Temperate life zoners? i Di Er 
154 Astragalus Diehlii N. Sp. Pods 1-1.5 cm; long; sessile, pen- 
dent, oblong, ashy; about 3 mm: wide and high, abóüt straight or the 
dorsal suture a little.concave, obtuse at.both ends or only triangular- 
apiculate at tip, rarely a trifle narrower below, cross-section obovate 
to a little cordate, ventral suture: conspicuóusly convex (the pods ap- 
pearing wrong side up), the tip in line with the dorsal suture or nearly 
so, suriace ashy. „Flowers about 7 mm. long, light-colored. Pedun-- 
cles shorter than the leaves and mostly half as long as the floral rachis - 
but rarely forms occur with longer peduncles. Leaves about 5-7 cm. 
long. Leaflets 5-9 pairs, cuneate-linear, 1-1.5 cm. long. Stems very 
tortuous, from slender underground branches of the thick and woody. 
crown of the strong and erect root. ‘Adobe plains at Farnham ‘Utah. > 
as to the type. Lower Temperate life zone. This may be only’an ex- . 
treme form-of A. flexuosus. Ea "bee OES rth oF ait 7: 
155 Astragalus gracilentus Gray Pl. Fend. 36 (1849) as Phaca, o 
and Proc. Am. Acad. 6 223 (1864).: Pods sessile, half-elliptical, 1.5-1.8 © 
cm. long, 4 mm. high, 3 mm. wide just below the middle, finely reticu-. 
lated, little rugulose, shortly acuminate and apiculate, not sulcate, mi-° 
nütely hairy, with cross-section. triangular-óvate, the ventral sutured: 
straight or nearly so and tip in line with it, splitting thé calyx and’ _ 
rounded at base, on pedicels about 2 mm. long, and with minute bracts?: = 
on the rachis. Flowers about 1 cm. long, shortly racemose, ascending’, ^ 
when young. Banner oval,about 5 mm. long, abruptly arched to erect * 
at end at calyx teeth and 2-3 mm. longer than keel: Wings narrow: 
and a little longer than keel. Keel with straight basé; then abruptly 
erect and 3 mm, high, about 4mm, Jony, thetip triangular and apici- 
late, .. Flowers father stubby. Calyx tube-3 mm long, the triangular _ 
and very unequal teeth about half as long as tube, cleft much deeper’ ` 
above, slightly oblique at base, Half as wide as long, ashy with slightly. > 
spreading hairs: Peduncles about as long as ore and equaling’ the} 
_ fruiting rachis. Leaves 5-7 em-long. .Leáílets 6-8 pairs, notched and _ 
. rounded, cuneate-oblong: about .5-I'cm.-long. Stems slender froma = 
woody base." Mountains of New Mexico about Santa Fee. Middle — 
d Lower Temperate life zones, blooming April to May, fruiting in. 
* 
a 
